Exploring the Psychology of Criminal Behavior: Theories and Influences

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of the psychology of criminal behavior, examining various factors that contribute to an individual's propensity to engage in criminal activities. The essay delves into three primary categories: biological, psychological, and social theories. Biological theories explore the influence of genetics, neurological factors, and mental health disorders on criminal behavior, while psychological theories focus on the impact of early childhood experiences, cognitive processes, and personality traits. Social theories examine the role of environmental factors, such as peer influence, family dynamics, and community structures, in shaping criminal behavior. The essay highlights the interplay of these factors, emphasizing that no single theory fully explains criminal behavior. The essay concludes by suggesting that a combination of these perspectives is essential for understanding and addressing the complexities of criminal behavior. It also highlights the similarities and differences between the theories, ultimately concluding that the biological theory is most applicable to crimes committed today.

Running head: PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR 1
Psychology of Criminal Behavior
Name
Institution

PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR 2
Psychology of Criminal Behavior
Executive summary
When it comes to identifying what factors intrigue an individual to commit negligent
Behavior, one can find themselves on an endless search for the exact answer. There has been an
extensive amount of researches done to determine what exactly activates an individual to select a
life of crime. The discussion of nurture vs nature remains a constant argument of which is more
responsible for individual development, either influences of external factors or inheritance of
internal factors. Many people believe that three key factors may lead an individual to the dark
path of destruction. Some of the influencing factors that shall be discussed in this paper are
separated into 3 categories; psychological, social, and biological. This paper is separated into
different parts.
Biological Theories
Biological theories attempt to describe behaviors contrary to societal expectations via
examination of personal characteristics. These theories are grouped within a paradigm known us
positivism, which proclaims that behaviors remain determined by factors beyond individual
control. Many researchers argue that biological theories are the biological nature of humans to
determine whether they shall commit criminal acts or not. Biological theories are usually tied in
with the concern of genetic and actual neurological brain issues (Fox, 2017). Determining if an
individual may tell the difference between right and wrong, or if an individual has any
connection with their emotions are key ways of identifying biological deficiencies. Individuals
with a personality disorder have a higher tendency of participating in delinquent Behavior. This
kind of Behavior could be violent, aggressive, impulsive actions, lack of attention, undertaking
things out of spit as well as feeling no guilt. Individuals on the more normal side that feel
remorse and have guilt may find it extremely confusing how a human being remains capable of

PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR 3
causing destruction and hurt to other people without feeling bad about it. Unluckily, it is just the
way the minds of these people remain structured. Many biological theories argue that the idea of
an individual’s brain structure normally determines their function. Such structures of the brain
are strongly focused on inheritance (Ling, Umbach & Raine, 2019). Also, some biological
factors shown to affect the behaviors of a person are hormone levels, traumatic brain injuries,
and mental illness. Therefore, the question we need to ask ourselves is that, could genetic be the
main root cause of CB (Criminal Behavior)?
It has been found that men may possibly carry an extra Y chromosome that could
possibly be linked to reasons for more aggression in them. Also, other genetic defects may
influence CB (Criminal Behavior). There is also some proof that confirms that DNA may be the
root cause. For example, abnormalities in central lobe (CL) in the brain might raise a lot of red
flags. This section of the brain regulates our emotions as well as emotional expression.
Neurotransmitter, which are messenger substances that arouse the excitation from one nerve cell
to other cells at chemical synapse produce dopamine and serotonin. When an individual is not
generating the correct chemical levels of dopamine and serotonin, the social behaviors of a
person may easily be affected. Many researchers argue that kids with deficient levels of
neurotransmitter are more likely to participate in criminal acts as compared to other kids.
The biological factors that have a great influence on criminal behavior is mental health
disorders. Mental health disorders are remains one of the main biological factors that predispose
an individual to involve in criminal activity. MHDs range from Bipolar Disorder (BD) to
Schizophrenia to personality disorders like Antisocial Personality Disorder, Borderline
Personality Disorder and Conduct Disorder. Therefore, it is true that individuals with MHD often

PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR 4
suffer from personality disorders (PD) they cannot recognize that certain behaviors remain
inappropriate to the population.
Psychological Theories
Psychological theories of crime propose that criminal Behavior is a result of a personal
difference in thinking processes. There are indeed numerous different psychological theories. All
of the psychological theories believe that it is the feelings and thoughts of the person that dictate
their actions (Del Toro et al. 2019). When examining these psychological theories, one must take
into account the three theories. The first one is the psychodynamic theory, which remains centred
on the idea that a person's early childhood experience greatly influences her or his probability of
committing a future crime. The next is the behavioral theory. The last one is the cognitive theory,
which proposes that a person's perception as well as how it remains manifested affect her or his
potential to commit the crime. Many of these people do not have developed sense of wrong and
right and many of them lack the capacity to feel empathy or guilty. These traits contribute to
whether or not an individual has the prosperity to participate in dangerous activities.
Psychological factors such as alcohol, drugs, living conditions, toxic exposures and poor
education may alter the function of the brain. Numerous criminal cases normally have some
involvement with alcohol or drugs (Walters, 2019). Alcohol often affects as well as lower
inhibitions triggering an increase in aggressive Behavior. Alcohol contains ethanol that affects
certain transmitter such as previously discussed and may easily increase the chances of acquiring
hostile illegitimate Behavior. Also, drugs, for example, opioids provoke violence. Addicts
remain at a higher risk of acting on impulse. A kid that grows up a poor living condition and
obtains subpar education may be left with a strong feeling of vulnerability to act on impulses

PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR 5
since she/he may feel that nothing shall ever be good for them in the future so they may decide to
engage in dangerous behaviors.
For a machine to work correctly, all the wiring needs to be in good condition. The same
thing occurs with the brain if there is no association between the ventromedial prefrontal cortex
and the amygdala. The amygdala remains a subcortical area of the brain that mainly processes
negative stimuli. On the other hand, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex remains what interprets
any response from this amygdala. So, when there is no association between the 2 there remains a
negative stimuli process that means an individual shall not be capable of expressing the correct
feelings towards any bad situation (Jolley, Douglas, Leite & Schrader, 2019). Any injury at all to
this prefrontal cortex may affect the way an individual operates. Until the year 1970, lead paint
was mainly used in numerous households. It was not until around this year that scientist found
out that exposure to excessive lead may do to the brain of the human being. Lead reacts mainly
as calcium copycat in our body. Over time, the continuous exposure to lead paint may harm the
normal function of systems in our body that need calcium, for example, the central nervous
system (CNS). This hurts the development of the brain and also confuses the functions of the
neurotransmitter, which in turn affect the cognitive functions. Many researchers argue lead may
cause brain damage which in turn shall affect intelligence. They also say that lead paint can
contribute to future impulsive as well as aggressive Behavior. Other researchers also found out
that this toxic exposure not only came from lead paint but also gasoline.
Social theories
Sociological theories claimed that criminal Behavior remains a normal response of
psychologically and biologically normal people particular types of social circumstances. The
sociological study of delinquency and crime has concentrated either on the social structural
factors such as social disorganization and poverty believed to create such Behavior on the arenas

PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR 6
of school, family, peer groups in which socialization to criminal Behavior or values are affected
(Kratcoski, Kratcoski & Kratcoski, 2020). It is true that social factors have numerous different
common denominators between adolescents and children. These components that may urge an
individual to act amongst abrupt Behavior include affiliations with; peer, school, family, and
community. Aggressive Behavior may come from an individual's adolescent or childhood
background, which may cause a likelihood of dangerous Behavior in adulthood. Kids who grow
up a violent household have been show to display a violent behavior. Sadly, this may turn into an
infinite cycle of destructive Behavior which is transmitted to the next generations. In correlation,
it remains uncommon to find a parent incarcerated as well as a kid engaging in criminal and
dangerous activity. This remains a well-known pattern and is referred to as common sense
observation. It is when kids began resembling their parents’ pattern. Many researchers argue that
stress, negative life events, and trauma have been associated with delinquent Behavior.
Also, social factors are closely tied to peers and friends each person chooses to socialize
with. Children these days that associate with wrong groups tend to fall more into peer pressure.
Once an individual exposes themselves to criminal Behavior and feels that most of their peers
like the Behavior, they will continue with this Behavior. This person may motivate other people
to follow them as well. Aggravated assault indeed originates from numerous different factors that
help influence and impact impulsive Behavior. Aggressive Behavior at a tender age may result in
violent Behavior in adulthood.
As you can see from this discussion, numerous different risk factors remain involved in
trying to elucidate the causes of delinquency. Unfortunately, criminal Behavior has been a
continuous problematic offence for many years. It is true that there may not be any factor that
people can identify as the root cause of these evil, now we know factors that we should look for.

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Realizing that maybe social and biological factors often work together as well as interact to make
up the Behavior of a person means we should be capable of learning from both sides to enable us
to develop better for treating convicts in hopes of modifying their behaviors.
Similarity
The early bases for psychology were physical and biological. For example, psychiatry
concentrates on mental disorders as well as tries to locate physiological bases for abnormal
behavior (Bonta & Andrews, 2016). All the three approaches help in analyzing Criminal
Behavior. Also, these 3 theories connect with criminal slant of a particular kind of identity. The
three theories share the same thought that criminal Behavior might be controlled and is a result
of the instinct of human being that is inborn in all the people. Lastly, the three theories offer
some evidence to know about the actual determinant of criminal behaviors. For instance,
Sociological theories claimed that criminal Behavior remains a normal response of
psychologically and biologically normal people particular types of social circumstances.
Differences
The main differences between the three theories are that biological approaches mainly
focus on genes, using twin studies, and brain scans. Psychological approaches focus on the
environment, using research and experiment (Figueredo, Gladden & Hohman, 2011). On the
other hand, social approaches focus on the social structural factors components that may urge an
individual to act amongst abrupt Behavior such as affiliations with; peer, school, family, and
community. It is true that Biological theory made the normal hypotheses that physical
characteristics may lead an individual to criminal exercises (Pullman, Sawatsky, Babchishin,
McPhail & Seto, 2017). This theory states that ecological contaminants, the human DNA, body
science, ecological contaminants, presentation to medications as well as liquor amid pregnancy
and hormones would all be capable of causing criminal Behavior.

PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR 8
The psychological theory explains criminal Behavior as variables influencing individuals
such as inadequate psychological improvement and antagonistic youth encounters. These
hypotheses became popular around the year 1993. The essential of these hypotheses was to find a
supporting connection amongst criminal as well as low insight.
Best Theory
It is true that there is no right or wrong among the theories of criminal Behavior. This is
because no single theory may offer a thorough explanation of crime as well as criminal Behavior,
neither on their evolution and variations. From the discussion, it is clear that the best theory that
is more applicable to crimes being committed today is biological theory. From the research I did,
it is true that there appears to always be a biological factor involved particularly when an
individual commit a crime; nevertheless, not all biological factors lead to delinquent behavior
and various biological factors may affect individuals in dissimilar ways, giving some people the
propensity to participate in criminal acts while not doing so to other people. This conclusion is
based on the evidence that if an individual already possesses biological factors going against
them, a negative environment may and shall definitely perpetuate criminal behavior.

PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR 9
References
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